Reinforced carton



Dec. 7, 1965 E. BOWLES ETAL 3,221,972

REINFORCED CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1963 LAZO 8 BARRYATTORNEYS Dec. 7, 1965 R. E. BOWLES ETAL 3,221,972

REINFORCED CARTON Filed Nov. 8, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 LAZO 8\ BARRYATTORNEYS Dec. 7, 1965 owL s ETAL 3,221,972

REINFORCED CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 8, 1963 LAZO 8 BARRYATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,221,972 REINFORCED CARTON Renile E.Bowles, Janesville, Wis and Robert L. Craig, Gurnee, 111., assignors toHoerner Boxes, Inc., Keokuk,

Iowa

Filed Nov. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 322,292 13 Claims. (Cl. 229-14) Thisinvention relates to containers for shipping and storing engines andmotors and more particularly to the skids used to support the engine ormotor within the container and its combination with the reinforcingstructure of the container.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a containerwhich is strong enough to protect an engine or motor during shipment andstorage.

Another object is to provide a combination wood and corrugatedpaperboard skid for supporting an engine or motor and the like duringshipment and storage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container structurewhich can be used in combination with a skid for protecting such enginesor motors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container whichcan be readily adapted to carry different types of engines or motors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container fortransporting and storing engines or motors which can be stacked on topof each other.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a container thatis economical to manufacture and simple to erect and assemble.

. A still further object is to provide a reinforcing lining for acontainer used to ship or store an engine or motor.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description when read in connection with the encloseddrawings in which FIG. 1 is a cutaway view of the container with theskid and liner positioned therein.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the container.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of one side of the skid.

FIG. 4 is a view of the corrugated paperboard blank used for thelongitudinal members of the skid.

FIG. 5 is a view of the corrugated paperboard blank used for the lateralmembers.

FIG. 6 is a view of the blank used for one of the pads.

FIG. 7 is a view of the blank used for the other pad.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway view of a container with the interior structuremodified to support an engine or motor having a portion projecting belowthe skid.

Referring to the drawings, the engine or motor contairier consists of acarton 10 of ordinary corrugated paperboard construction. Into thiscarton an engine or motor mounted on a skid 12 is inserted until theskid rests on the bottom of the carton. Sidewall retainers 14 havingdouble walled corners 16 are inserted into opposite sides of the cartonwith the bottom edge resting on the top of the skid and the top edge ofthe retainer flush with the top of the carton. An open-ended insert 18is forced into the space between the sidewall retainer surrounding theengine and holding the sidewall retainers in position. When the topfiaps of the carton are closed, the doublewalled corners of the sidewallretainers act as corner braces to reinforce the container for stackingand to hold or lock the skid in place in the event that the container istipped over.

The carton is cut from corrugated paperboard preferably R.S.C. Stitched500# B/C and is scored at to form end walls 20 and 22, side walls 24 and26, bottom closure flaps 20b, 22b, 24b, and 26b and top closure flaps20a, 22a, 24a, and 26a. The bottom closure flaps are folded over inconventional manner and secured together 3,221,972 Patented Dec. 7, 1965by a tape 28 or any other suitable means to form the bottom for thecarton. The top closure flaps can be folded over in the same manner toform the top after the engine or motor to be shipped has been seatedtherein and the other parts of the container have been inserted intoposition. This carton is of generally standard configuration and can bemade of any type of paperboard considered strong enough to protect theengine or motor.

The skid 12 must have sufficient strength to support an engine or motorof considerable weight. Corrugated paperboard if properly cut and foldedhas been found to have the necessary strength. The skid thereforeincludes a pair of longitudinal members 3t) having notches 4G and 41 atthe ends. Lateral members 32 have their ends embedded in the notches toform a rectangular paperboard frame. Both the longitudinal and lateralmembers are made from a single blank of corrugated paperboard cut andscored as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Wooden braces 34 and 36 have theirends seated in slots 42 and 44, respectively, in the longitudinalmembers. The wooden braces can be drilled for mounting the base of theengine or motor to the skid frame.

Referring to FIG. 4, the longitudinal member is cut from a corrugatedpaperboard blank 38 (200# C/F) having the flutes of the corrugationsrunning transverse to the longitudinal axis of the blank. This blank hasa number of double score lines 45 which extend transversely across theblank, so that it can be folded into a hollow rectangular members havinga double wall on the outerside and a triple wall on the inside. Notches4t) and 41 are cut along the edges of the blank and slots 42 and 44 arecut in the inside wall portions of the blank. The notches are .cutslightly smaller than the contemplated width of the lateral members sothat they will fit tightly in the longitudinal members without the aidof any nails or bolts. It should be obvious that the blanks for thelongitudinal members must be scored and cut for right hand and left handmembers.

To increase the strength of the longitudinal members pads 4s and 43 areinserted into the ends of the longitudinal member. The pads are formedfrom a number of flat corrugated paperboard blanks as shown in FIGS. 6and 7 which are glued together. In the present embodiment seven blanksare used to make each of the pads and kraft corrugated C flute 275# testdouble-faced board is used in this container. Slots 58 and 60 are cut inthe blanks and are aligned with slots 42 and 44, respectively, when thepads are inserted into the ends of the longitudinal member. Woodenblocks 56 and 52 may be imbedded within notches 54 and 56, respectively,to increase the strength of the longitudinal member. These blocks areembedded in the notches before the pads are inserted into thelongitudinal members. Notches 40a and 41a are cut in the ends of theblanks for alignment with notches 4d and 41 in the longitudinal members.Referring to FIG. 6, the lateral members 32 are cut from a paperboardblank 51 (200# C/F) which has been scored at a number of places 53. Eachset of score lines is spaced a progressively greater distance from theprevious set of score lines so that the lateral member can be foldedinto a solid rectangular member. The finished lateral member will have arectangular cross section having a width slightly greater than the widthof notches 40 and 41. As is well known, the corrugated paperboard has acertain amount of surface flexibility which makes it possible to pressor force the ends of the lateral members into the notches in thelongitudinal members so that they will be tightly seated therein.

In assembling the skid frame a right hand and left hand longitudinalmember is formed from the cut and scored vcorrugated paperboard blank.Woden blocks 50 and 52 are placed in the notches 54 and 56 in pads 46and 48 and the pads inserted into the respective ends of thelongitudinal members until slots 58 and 60 are aligned with slots 42 and44 respectively. One end of each of the wooden braces is inserted intothe slots 42 and 44 in one of the longitudinal members and the other endinserted into the corresponding slots 42 and 44 in the other.longitudinal member. The longitudinal members are squeezed tightlytogether so that the ends of the braces are completely seated in theslots. The preformed lateral members are inserted into the notches atthe ends of the longitudinal member and pads to complete the skid. Itshould be noted that the skid does not require any nails or bolts inassembling and has been found to withstand considerable vibrationwithout coming apart. After assembly holes may be drilled into thewooden braces for securing the base of the engine or motor to the skidframe.

The side wall retainers are identical and are formed from a single blankof corrugated paperboard (500# B/C) which has a number. of scored andslit lines 64 at each end. The ends are folded to form the double walledcorners 16 which act as braces for the corner of the carton. The widthof the retainers is made equal to the difference between the height ofthe side wall of the carton and the width or height of the longitudinalmember. When the sidewall retainer is placed in the carton it willextend upward from the top edge of the longitudinal member of the skidto a height flush with the top of the side wall of the carton.

The open-ended insert is also formed from a flat blank of corrugatedpaperboard which has a number of score lines 66 that are folded to formthe corners of the insert. The blank is folded along the score lines andsecured at one corner by tape 68 to form an open ended rectangularshaped tube having outside dimensions slightly smaller than the insidedimensions of the carton. When placed in the carton, the insert rests onthe top of the longitudinal members and extends upward to a height flushwith the top edge of the carton. It acts to squeeze the sidewall insertsagainst the inside surfaces of the sidewalls, as well as to surround theengine or motor mounted therein.

In using the carton, the skid is preassembled as described above. Anengine or motor is secured to the wooden braces on the skid and boltedin position. The carton is erected and the bottom flaps folded inwardlyand secured together by any suitable means such as a tape as shown. Theengine and skid are placed in the carton with the longitudinal membersof the skid parallel to the sidewalls of the carton and resting on thebottom of the carton. The length of the longitudinal members of the skidare made approximately equal to the inside length of the sidewalls. Thelateral members are made with a length sufficient to seat the outsidesurfaces of the. longitudinal members against the inside surfaces of thecarton. With this arrangement the outside surfaces of the skid will fitsnugly within the carton. The two sidewall retainers are folded withtheir ends doubled and positioned so that they overlie the longitudinalmembers of the skid frame and extend upward flush with the upper edge ofthe carton. The double walled ends of the retainer thereby form bracesin the four corners of the carton.

The open ended insert is then pushed into the carton until it seats onthe top of the longitudinal members of the skid frame with its upperedge flush with the upper edge of the carton. This insert holds thesidewall retainers in place by squeezing them against the inside surfaceof the side-walls of the carton. This insert also acts as a secondarywall or shroud for the engine that is mounted on the skid frame. Whenthe carton is closed and sealed, the skid retainer and inserts will berigidly held in place. The container assembled will be suffi- 4 cientlystrong to support and protect the engine or motor from any damage inshipment or storage.

If the engine which is to be shipped in the carton has any dependingparts which might extend below the skid, it is a simple matter to adaptthe container to carry such an engine. Each of the sidewall retainersand the open ended insert are cut along a line 70 (shown dotted in FIG.2) which divides the retainers and insert into upper (c) and lower (d)sections. This line is determined by the amount of clearance required'below the skid.

Referring to FIG. 8, the lower section c of the retainer and centralinsert is placed in the carton first so that it rests on the bottom ofthe carton. The engine and skid are then placed in the carton with thelongitudinal members of the skid resting on the lower sections of theretainers and insert. The upper sections d of the retainers and insertsare then positioned in' the carton. When the carton is closed the skidwill be supported in a fixed position within the carton. The importantconsideration in modifying the carton isthat the width of thelongitudinal member on the skid plus the total width of the retainerssections c and d must be approximately equal to the height of thecarton.

Although only two embodiments of the present inven: tion have been shownand described, it should be apparent that various changes andmodifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination wood and corrugated paperboard skid comprising a pairof longitudinal members each formed from a single blank of corrugatedpaperboard folded to a hollow rectangular cross section,

two pair of reinforcing pads having a wooden block imbedded in each pad,

one pad of each pair of pads being positioned in opposite ends of one ofsaid longitudinal members and the other pad of each pair beingpositioned in the opposite ends of the other of said longitudinalmembers,

a pair of wooden cross members interconnecting the longitudinal membersand resting on said wooden blocks in said pads,

and a pair of lateral members secured to and interconnecting the ends ofthe longitudinal member.

2. A combination wood and corrugated paperboard skid comprising arectangular frame having longitudinal members and lateral members madeof corrugated paperboard,

a pair of wooden cross members having their ends imbedded in thelongitudinal members,

reinforcing means imbedded within the longitudinal members andsurrounding the ends of the wooden member.

3. A skid according to claim 2 wherein said reinforcing means includes awooden block positioned to under lie the ends of the wooden member.

4. A skid according to claim 3 wherein said longitudinal members arefolded to hollow tubular form having rectangular cross section, saidreinforcing means being inserted into the ends of said longitudinalmember and being notched to receive the ends of the wooden members.

5. A shipping container for transporting and storing engines or motorscomprising a carton having end walls, sidewalls, and top and bottomclosure flaps integral with said walls,

a skid for supporting said engines or motors and having longitudinalmembers and lateral members,

said skid being adapted to fit snugly in the bottom of said carton withthe longitudinal members parallel to the sidewalls of the carton,

a retainer means positioned against each sidewall of the carton andhavingits bottom edge abutting the top of the longitudinal members andits top edge flush with the top of the sidewall,

each of said retainer means having a double walled section at each endwhich is positioned in the corners of the carton,

and tubular means positioned within said carton to hold the retainermeans against the sidewalls whereby upon closure of the end flaps thelongitudinal member and retainer means form a solid wall from the bottomclosure flap to the top closure flap thereby holding the skid rigidly inposition.

6. A shipping container according to claim 5 wherein said double walledsections of said retainer means extend partly across the inside surfaceof the end walls of said carton.

7. A shipping container according to claim 6 wherein said skid includesa pair of wooden cross members having their ends imbedded in thelongitudinal members.

8. A shipping container according to claim 7 wherein said longitudinalmembers and lateral members each being formed from a single blank ofcorrugated paperboard said longitudinal member having a rectangularcross section and open at both ends.

9. A shipping container according to claim 8 wherein said longitudinalmembers have reinforcing pads positioned in each end,

said pads being slotted and notched to receive one end of one of thewooden braces and one end of one of the lateral members.

10. A shipping container according to claim 9 wherein said pads havewooden blocks imbedded therein to support the ends of the Wooden braces.

11. A shipping container for transporting and storing engines or motorscomprising,

a carton having end walls, sidewalls, top and bottom closure flapsintegral with said Walls,

skid means for supporting said engines or motors and having longitudinalmembers and lateral members,

said skid means being adapted to fit within the endwalls and sidewallsof the carton, retainer means having upper and lower sections forsupporting said skid means in spaced relation to the top and bottom ofthe carton, and a tubular insert means having upper and lower sectionsfor holding the retainer means in position. 12. A container according toclaim 11 wherein each of said retainer sections has a double walledL-shaped end, each of which is positioned in a corner of the carton.

13. A skid for supporting an engine or motor comprising a pair oflongitudinal members and a pair of lateral members interconnecting theends of the longitudinal members, each of said longitudinal and lateralmembers being formed from a single blank of corrugated paperboard andhaving rectangular cross sections, and a pair of wooden cross membersinterconnecting the longitudinal members intermediate the lateralmembers, said longitudinal members including slots to receive the endsof the wooden cross members, and reinforcing means within saidlongitudinal members underlying the ends of the cross members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 974,871 11/1910Ferres. 2,013,346 9/1935 Gomes 229-14 2,761,558 9/1956 McLean 229-14 XFOREIGN PATENTS 1,083,357 6/ 1954 France.

509,241 10/ 1930 Germany. 1,101,271 3/1961 Germany.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner.

1. A COMBINATION WOOD AND CORRUGATED PAPERBOARD SKID COMPRISING A PAIROF LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS EACH FORMED FROM A SINGLE BLANK OF CORRUGATEDPAPERBOARD FOLDED TO A HOLLOW RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION, TWO PAIR OFREINFORCING PADS HAVING A WOODEN BLOCK IMBEDDED IN EACH PAD, ONE PAD OFEACH PAIR OF PADS BEING POSITIONED IN OPPOSITE ENDS OF ONE OF SAIDLONGITUDINAL MEMBERS AND THE OTHER PAD OF EACH PAIR BEING POSITIONED INTHE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE OTHER OF SAID LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS, A PAIR OFWOODEN CROSS MEMBERS INTERCONNECTING THE LONGITUDINAL MEMBERS ANDRESTING ON SAID WOODEN BLOCKS IN SAID PADS, AND A PAIR OF LATERALMEMBERS SECURED TO AND INTERCONNECTING THE ENDS OF THE LONGITUDINALMEMBER.